Navajo Artisan-COOPER WILLIE- Top Notch-Excellent Quality Kingman Turquoise-Traditional Navajo Sawed/Chiseled Design Masculine Man's Ring- SZ. 11.25 to 11.50
Navajo Artisan-COOPER WILLIE- Top Notch-Excellent Quality Kingman Turquoise-Traditional Navajo Sawed/Chiseled Design Masculine Man's Ring- SZ. 11.25 to 11.50
THE RING:
Dictating not only the higher price than what Coopers rings normally go for, but also the exceptional shape of this cut, is carefully based on this over-the-top, premium quality cut of Kingman turquoise! It’s not everyday you see this quality & it only adds to the overall value.. I’d call this one a real keeper!!
The stone is expertly set in a shallow shadowbox setting, where the bezel is intentionally separated from the outer sterling silver perimeter on the face of the ring, creating a layered effect (see photos). The perimeter of the face features intricate saw work as well as finely chiseled detailing that meticulously follow the natural contours of the top-notch Kingman turquoise cut, enhancing the ring’s authentic aesthetic.
The tapered shank stands out as truly unique because it features two distinct finishes: one with a rich oxidized look and the other with a sleek contemporary finish. Additionally, it has two contrasting textures—the contemporary finished sterling is smooth and refined, while the base of the shank has a darkened, rougher texture that adds depth and character. The smooth, high-polished square sterling wire running along the top and bottom perimeter, not only adds a subtle touch of weight to the ring, but also enhances the overall design by introducing a sophisticated and eye-catching element.
THE WIDE SHANK: (SIZING)
Because of the somewhat wide tapered shank has a lot to do with it measuring differently in size when put on the ring mandrel, for example, If I put it on the mandrel one way, it measured 11-1/4, now when I flip it around & put it back on the mandrel, it measures at a 11-1/2.(SEE PHOTOS 10-11)
So because of the width, what I would look for If I was the buyer, is I would look for a ring that’s size 11-1/4 size, rather than the 11-1/2, (Even though you may wear that size) because with these wide shanks, you want to go down slightly in size in order to accommodate it's approximate 3/4" width.
**PRICE IS BASED ON: You are mainly paying for the quality that this particular cut of turquoise has, the "cost per carat" for this quality, and the "amount of carats" You are also paying for the artist's name, the sterling cost & artists time, which are all reflected in price. Remember in this business, “you pay for what you get” :-)
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ARTIST: Cooper Willie
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo
SIZE: 11-1/4 TO 11-1/2
SIZEABLE: No-Due to Shanks Design
WEIGHT: 28.6 Grams ( 1 Ounce even)
FACE SIZE: 1” Tall X 7/8" Wide (Approximately)
METAL: Sterling
FINISH: Lightly Oxidized to Contemporary/Mirror Finished
STONE: Natural-High Grade Top Notch Kingman Turquoise
STONE SHAPE: Roundish-\Oval
STONE SIZE: 17 mm X 15 mm
SHANK: Tapered
HALLMARK: "C WILLIE/Sterling
Comes Gift Boxed
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SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT:
Because of the price, this will have a mandatory signature confirmation requirement (reflected in shipping price).. If you're not home in the day & need it shipped where it can be signed for,please change that in your "Ship To" section before I create the shipping label***I'm sorry if this may be an inconvenience, but I do not ship expensive pieces without one. This is for your safety & mine.
PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:
*****I do not consider myself a 'professional photographer" but I do try to give you photos that are 'realistic" in color. Please understand that all screen monitors are different, so the materials can look brighter (or duller) ,more intense or less intense from one computer/phone to the next.
In order to give you close up photos so I can provide you with all the detail, can tend to make the item look much more larger & everything is more magnified & exaggerated than in actuality. So to get an accurate idea of how big the ring is, please either check it out on the finger to get a rough idea (photo) or you can pull out a tape measure & compare to my given measurements.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST:
The 34-year-old Cooper was born, raised, and currently resides on the Navajo reservation in the town of To’hajiilee (Toe-hah-jah-lee), New Mexico, located just west of Albuquerque. Cooper feels truly blessed to have been born into a large and closely-knit family deeply rooted in Navajo tradition. This family has earned a respected name in the jewelry industry, with many members recognized as skilled jewelers. Cooper is the son of Lonnie Willie—who is the brother of Ronnie Willie—and the brother of Tawney Willie. He had the invaluable opportunity to learn the art of traditional Navajo jewelry making from his father Lonnie, who not only taught Cooper but also guided the entire family, including Ronnie and his own parents. For those interested, these family members and many more can be found represented in our listings under “Women’s Jewelry,” spanning nearly every category, showcasing a rich heritage of craftsmanship and cultural artistry.
Like Lonnie did with Tawney, he began Cooper’s training by having him work with copper, ensuring that if any mistakes occurred, they wouldn’t come at a very costly price. This careful approach allowed Cooper to gain confidence and skill without the pressure of working with more expensive materials initially. After mastering the basics, Lonnie then introduced him to stamp work, guiding him through practice using nickel silver, a material that offered the perfect balance between durability and affordability for learning intricate techniques. Cooper has since taken all the valuable lessons and techniques he learned from Lonnie and applied them effectively, while simultaneously developing his own unique style and signature approach, making his work distinctly his own.
Having strong mathematical and analytical characteristics naturally leads him to be the 'perfectionist' that he is, and one thing you will never find him producing is "mediocre jewelry." Regardless of the price or the size of the piece, he would never dream of creating anything less than the absolute best. This is an artist who is uniquely gifted with an exceptional "attention to detail" that is both spot on and impeccable. His lines are consistently clean, precise, and carefully executed, ensuring that every element is in perfect balance and uniformly crafted to the highest standard.
His specialty is doing heavy gauge Men’s jewelry, with the focus on extremely masculine men's rings,He's a "Manly-Man's" artist & is highly sought out by men because of this.
